Method and apparatus for treating ailments

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for the delivery of a vaporized pharmaceutical or medicant for the treatment and alleviation of ailments such as, cold symptoms, asthma and/or certain skin infections. A stream of air is heated and directed to the desired area and the medicant or pharmaceutical is vaporized into the air stream for delivery to the desired area. Preferably delivery is to the mucous or other membranes where it is absorbed by the body. In the treatment of colds the air is introduced into the nasal passages of the cold sufferer at a hyperthermia level. A vaporized microbicidal agent is introduced into the stream of air and into the nasal passages. The apparatus includes a housing containing a fan or blower and temperature control heating elements to warm the air. The housing includes a distribution area having nasal outlets for positioning on or about the nasal area of the user so that the warmed air is directed to flow into the nasal passages. A supply of microbicidal agent within the apparatus housing is introduced into the flow stream of the heated air by a spray device so that minute droplets of the microbicidal agent are entrained within the flow stream of the heated air. The combined effect of the heated air at hyperthermia levels and the microbicidal agent act on the cold viruses or bacterias housed in the nasal passages so as to alleviate cold systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 509,172, filedJune 29, 1983 and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating anumber of ailments for example, colds, asthma and certain otherinfections.

The common cold has persisted as an ailment affecting the human speciessince the earliest days of man. While great advances have been made overthe years in dealing with numerous diseases, the common cold has enduredas a persistent ailment which has heretofore defied effective treatment.

Recently it has been found that the common cold is caused by a virus.Additional research has uncovered the fact that a cold can be caused byin excess of one hundred different viruses and occasionally by bacteria.Thus the reason for the elusiveness of an effective cold remedy becomesapparent.

Cold viruses seem to find the temperature within the nose, about 33° C.or 91.4° F., more agreeable than the warmer climate of the blood andinternal organs. The viruses attack the cells of the mucous membrane,producing congestion, sneezing and nasal drip. Some viruses have othereffects, including aches, fever, coughing and chill. Colds take two tothree days to incubate and last a week or so to run their course,declining slowly from an early peak. Sufferers are most infectious atthe beginning, when sneezing and dripping are at their height. The viruskills the nasal cells it infects, and it takes time to regenerate them.That is one explanation of why it may take a while to recover from acold.

For most adults, a cold is merely a nuisance. Sometimes it requires aday or two of bed rest, but more often it affects the victim with severediscomfort exemplified by a tired achey feeling. Children, however,often run a fever--and one adult cold virus, known as respiratorysyncytial virus, can cause severe illness and even death in infants.Colds can also threaten adults suffering from chronic asthma andbronchitis.

The economic effect of colds is not negligible. The National Center forHealth Statistics estimates that Americans caught 93 million colds--arate of about 41.4 per 100--in 1981. But this total includes only casesthat led to a visit to a doctor or restricted activity, 105 million daysof bed disability and 32 million days off work. In 1979 (the most recentyear for which figures are available), there were 11 deaths in whichacute nasopharyngitis was listed as the sole cause of death.

Most viruses give immunity afterward, but only to that one virus. Thatis why small children seem to go from one cold to another, year roundsince their immunities are not in place. Adults tend to catch fewercolds year by year as acquired immunities build up.

Infuriating as it seems, after the decades of research into the complexof conditions called the common cold, there are still no usefulsuggestions for the ordinary sufferer. Once the cold has set in, theonly treatment is to relieve symptoms.

Like all viruses, the ones that cause colds consist of a bit of geneticmaterial, RNA or DNA, the two acids that constitute the genetic code,wrapped in a coat of protein. When the virus attacks the cell, thegenetic chemicals enter the cell, then shed the coat. There they feed onthe cell's genetic core, diverting it from its real function in the bodyand ordering it to build more viruses, which then leave the cell andrepeat the cycle.

A cure for a cold presumably would have to invade the cell as well,destroying the virus without harming the cell.

Because it has been found that the cold virus exists predominately inthe nasal passages where the temperature is lower, at 91.4° F., thanother body areas, it has been reasoned that by artificially heating thenasal passages above 98.6° F., the cold virus might be killed orseriously weakened. The present invention applies earlier research intothe uses of hyperthermia for various other human ailments to theproblems of cold virus. Hyperthermia as it is used in this disclosure,and generally, has come to mean temperatures in humans above 41° C. or106° F. induced with therapeutic intent.

Hyperthermia has shown various therapeutic advantages for a variety ofailments. More recently physical hyperthermia has been introduced totreat malignant cells in cancer therapy. Of significance, it is nowassumed that some cancers are caused by viruses and changes in thegenetic structure of the affected cells. In addition, it has been foundthat hyperthermia often shows synergism with X-irradiation andchemotherapy making combination therapy attractive. It has also beenestablished that in general, malignant cells are more sensitive thannormal cells in the range of 41° C. to 44° C., or 106° F. to 111° F.Medical researchers around the world report that heating malignanttissue to the hyperthermic range appears to be a safe and efficientmeans for either destroying the cancer cells or making them moresusceptible to other forms of treatment. It has also been found bycancer researchers that immunal responses are stimulated by theapplication of controlled heat to the malignant areas. Controlled heatalso increases the circulation of blood to the affected area, aiding inthe carrying away of dead cell material as well as the rebuilding of newcells.

In developing the present invention, original experiments utilized onlythe application of heat of approximately 100° F. to 105° F. to the nasalpassages. These experiments showed that cold symptoms, while not lastingthe full seven to ten day cycle, were only reduced to a four to five daycycle. Greater effectiveness at this heat range may have beendemonstrated by much longer exposure to the heat source, but convenienceand tolerance especially among children were significant limitingfactors. Experiments then continued with higher heat levels, 110° F. to130° F., which produced better results than the lower levels but coldsymptoms still lingered. The experiments continued with varioustemperature levels in combination with various microbicidal agentsincluding hexylresorcinol and povidone-iodine. It was found that highertemperatures, which heated the nasal passages to approximately 106° F.to 113° F., in combination with the microbicidal agents hexylresorcinoland/or povidone-iodine resulted in cold symptoms disappearing withintwelve to thirty-six hours.

It is believed that the combination treatment works best because theheated air seriously weakens the cold viruses and the concurrent orimmediate introduction of the microbicidal agents further attacks thenow weakened viruses, or occasionally bacteria, leading to theireffective neutralization. The weakening or killing of the virus alsoacts as a catalyst to the body's immune system. The heat also increasesthe blood to the nasal passages, aiding in carrying away the dead cellsand regenerating the new healthy cells in the nasal passages. Thus itwas found that the treatment of early cold symptoms with heat and eitherhexylresorcinol or povidone-iodine, or both, usually resulted in theircomplete prevention or elimination within hours at most.

For fully developed colds, a combination of heat plus the microbicidalantiviral agents hexylresorcinol and/or povidone-iodine proved mosteffective, with elimination of symptoms within twelve to thirty-sixhours. As used herein the term microbicidal agent means a germicide orantiseptic which, when applied in the nasal passages and used inconjunction with the application of heat to the nasal passages, producesan alleviation of cold symptoms in a cold sufferer. It is believed thatthe combination of the application of the microbicidal agent withhyperthermia treatment produces a significantly greater antiviralaction.

The preferred choice of microbicidal agents, povidone-iodine andhexylresorcinol, was dictated by their demonstrated effectiveness incombination with the hyperthermia treatments. In addition bothpovidone-iodine and hexylresorcinol have proven to be effective whilebeing non-toxic and non-irritating to the body or mucous membranes,after more than twenty-five years of use by the general public.

The leading povidone-iodine agent is sold under the trademark "Betadine"and this was the formulation used in the development of this invention.Povidone-iodine is a highly effective, broad spectrum topicalmicrobicide for antiseptic use on skin, wounds and mucosa. It isemployed widely in the hospital, clinic, office and home.Povidone-iodine differs physically and chemically from all other topicalantiseptics and idophors and is recognized as the only non-detergentidophor presenting properties different from those of other germicidaliodine compounds or solubilized iodine mixtures. Povidone-iodineprovides the following advantages: microbicidal activity, not merelybacteriostatic; broad spectrum microbicidal activity to kill bothgram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (including antibiotic-resistantstrains), tubercle bacillus, fungi, viruses, protozoa and yeasts; fastacting killing of most pathogens (except spores) within one minute invitro with many organisms killed in only 15 to 30 seconds; microbicidalactivity is maintained in the presence of blood, pus, serum and mucosalsecretions; and virtually nonirritating and nonstinging to skin andmucus.

Hexylresorcinol was chosen due to its broad spectrum microbicideproperties, low toxicity and soothing qualities. Development of thepresent invention has indicated effectiveness against the cold viruswhen used in combination with hyperthermia in preventing colds and intreating and eliminating existing cold symptoms.

In studies at Johns Hopkins Hospital published in the Bulletin of JohnsHopkins Hospital 41:21, 1927, Hexylresorcinol in a 1:1000 concentrationin a glycerine-acqueous solution was shown to be completely effectiveagainst the common pathogenic bacteria including:

    ______________________________________                                        Test Organisms        Control  15 Seconds                                     ______________________________________                                        ESCHERICHIA COLI      +        0                                              EBERTHELLA TYPHOSA    +        0                                              PSEUDOMONAS PYOCYANEUS                                                                              +        0                                              PROTEUS VULGARIS      +        0                                              STAPHYLOCOCCUS ALBUS  +        0                                              STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS +        0                                              CORYNEBACTERIUM DIPHTHERIAE                                                                         +        0                                              CORYNEBACTERIUM HOFMANNI                                                                            +        0                                              STREPTOCOCCUS HAEMOLYTICUS                                                                          +        0                                              STREPTOCOCCUS VIRIDANS                                                                              +        0                                              PNEUMOCOCCUS TYPE I   +        0                                              PNEUMOCOCCUS TYPE IV  +        0                                              NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS                                                                              +        0                                              NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE +        0                                              VIBRIO METCHNIKOVII   +        0                                              ______________________________________                                         +30  = Growth                                                                 0 = Sterile                                                              

Over the years hexylresorcinol has shown to have antimicrobicidaleffects and has also been used as a gargle and a urinary antiseptic. Ithas been shown to be effective as a urinary antiseptic in killingmicrobes in the urine in concentrations ranging from 1:60,000 to1:18,000. Other germicidal studies have shown effectiveness in dilutionsas high as 1:5000. In the development of the present inventionhexylresorcinol in dilutions of 1:2000 in a glycerine-acqueous solutionwere used and occasionally dilutions of 1:1000 were also used.

Other applications for hexylresorcinol over the years have includedapplication for cuts, abrasions, burns, sunburns, athletes foot and thehygienic care of the mouth as a mouthwash, gargle and application aftertooth extraction. Hexylresorcinol is also used as the active ingredientin a leading throat lozenge.

According to the Federal Register, Volume 47, no. 101, May 25, 1982, apanel commissioned by the Federal Drug Administration foundhexylresorcinol in concentrations at least as high as 1:1000 to be safefor topical applications to the mucous membranes of the mouth andthroat.

Various prior art devices have been proposed for the treatment ofrespiratory or infectious problems. The Stuart device, U.S. Pat. No.1,239,634, produces a flow of warmed air to the patient but not athyperthermia levels. However, the Stuart device will not be effectiveagainst colds as the amount of heat produced is virtually unregulatedand not sufficiently high enough. This differs substantially from theinvention disclosed herein which produces controlled heated air to takeadvantage of the properties of hyperthermia. The Stuart device, usingthe disclosed filter, produces a very unmeasured amount of medicant asthere is no way of controlling how much medicant is released from themedicated cotton over a given period of time.

The Mascolo device, U.S. Pat. No. 1,965,424, utilizes steam passingthrough a closed cup of medicant. Again this device fails to present ameans of controlling the temperature of the steam which is probablydangerously high, especially for children. The towel disclosed thereinpurportedly protects the face from the boiling steam, but again it isdifficult to ascertain the amount of thermal protection and the amountof medicant being delivered to the face and to the nasal passages, ifany.

The Inoue device, U.S. Pat. No. 2,047,324, provides for the delivery ofvolatile matters or medicinal matters fumigated by means of an electricheating device and a forced draft. Again the device provides no controlas to the amount of heat or the amount of medicant provided to the user.

The Conlin device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,236, provides a means ofdelivering vapors, perhaps medicated, to the user with a crude means oftemperature control. Again the amount of medicant and the temperaturerange of the vapors are difficult to carefully regulate.

Specifically, such previous apparatus do not incorporate controlledconditions of temperature or medicant delivery which is important to theefficacy of an effective cold treatment procedure and especially in thesafe treatment of the patient, and none disclose a way of stopping themedicant without shutting down the entire device.

Additionally, such previous apparatus have not specifically recognizedthe advantages of combining hyperthermia with any specific microbicidesfor the treatment of the common cold. More specifically none disclose orteach the advantages of either hexylresorcinol or povidone-iodine intheir treatment, nor do they appear to provide an especially convenientmeans of treatment in terms of comfort or time with these obviousadvantages. These noted prior art devices are also bulky, barelyportable and certainly not lightweight and handheld as is the device ofthe present invention with its obvious advantages particularly intreating another patient.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus to provide an effective treatment to alleviate thesymptoms of the common cold in a cold sufferer.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple yeteffective method and apparatus to treat symptoms of the common coldthrough the use of hyperthermia by warming the nasal passages of thecold sufferer and then providing for the application of a microbicidalagent within the nasal passages.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anapparatus for the treatment of the common cold which effectivelycombines the ability to heat the nasal passages of a cold sufferer tohyperthermic levels and to selectively deliver a microbicidal agent inconvenient dosage to the warmed nasal passages.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such apparatusin a simple to construct, lightweight form which is convenientlyhandheld so as to be relatively simple and easy to use.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide suchapparatus wherein a selected microbicidal agent may be dispensed in acontrolled quantity so as to effectively provide a convenient dosage ofthe selected medicant.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusto deliver a variety of medicants for topical or internal use especiallyin instances where the mucous membranes may effectively andexpeditiously absorb the prescribed medicant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention resides in a method and apparatus for preventing acold or treating a cold in a cold sufferer wherein an air stream isheated to 110° to 130° F. The air stream is introduced into the nasalpassage of the cold sufferer for a selected period of time andsubsequently, an effective amount of sprays containing droplets ofmicrobicidal and anti-viral agents, to apply a coating to the nasalpassage lining, is also injected into the nasal passage in a timedconcurrent or sequential relationship to the introduction of the heatedair.

The apparatus successfully provides for the delivery of heat and thechosen microbicidal agents to combine in a synergistic manner to kill orseriously weaken the cold virus and/or bacteria. A device for carryingout the above method comprises a housing having air entry and air exitports wherein air is drafted into the housing via the entry port by afan which along with its drive are contained in the housing. The fandraws air across a heating element to produce a stream of heated airhaving a temperature in the range of 110° F. to 130° F. The housing issupplied with temperature control means to maintain proper temperatureincluding a rheostat for preselecting current and hence heat range aswell as a thermostat inserted in the cylinder in advance of thedistribution area, which will shut off current to the heating element ata preselected maximum heat range. The continued action of the fanbringing in cool air will rapidly cool down the heating elements. Theapparatus with the heating element turned on again at a predeterminedminimum temperature, as controlled by the thermostat, maintains aregulated warm air flow to insure maintenance of a hyperthermic flow ofair.

The heated air is then forced from the housing through the exit portinto the distribution area with the distribution area being adapted todistribute the heated air into the nasal passages of the cold sufferer.

The distribution area has nasal outlets directing the heated air and/orspray to the nasal passages. A fine spray of medicated droplets isselectively released to apply a medicated coating to the mucous liningof the nasal passages. The spray, having its own means of propulsion,may also be sprayed into the nasal passages independent of the forcedheated air. Alternate means of providing the spray might be an attachedatomizer bulb with a tube entering the housing or an electric pistonpump instead of the mechanical pump. Alternatively, the air may beforced over a porous absorption material impregnated with themicrobicidal agent.

In another embodiment of the present invention other prescribedmedicants may be introduced through the mucous membranes for thetreatment of other ailments or topically applied to other areas of thebody.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-section diagramatically illustrating thedevice of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of a capsule containingpremeasured quantities of a desired medicant which may be used inanother embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawing, the apparatus 10 for the treatment andalleviation of cold symptoms comprises a housing 12 having a handleportion 14 defining interior chambers 16 and 18, respectively. One end20 of the chamber 16 is open to the atmosphere to provide an air intakeopening and the other end 22 of the chamber 16 is also open to define anair outlet pasage. A filter screen 24 is preferably fitted withinopening 20 to filter out dust particles. Preferably housings 12 and 14are formed of lightweight high strength molded plastic material so thedevice is readily adapted for ready portability and ease of use.

Mounted within chamber 16 in housing 12 is a fan or blower 26 positionedand oriented to draw atmospheric air through opening 20 and screen 24into chamber 16. The air flow passes through a heating device 28 andcontinues under the action of blower 26 after being warmed by the heater28 to exit opening 22.

Housing 12 and chamber 16 are configured so that the upper wall segment30 adjacent opening 22 converges towards the lower wall segment 32 todirect the flow of air flowing through chamber 16 toward the lower wallsegment 32. An end pad 34 adapted to snap fit over opening 22 isprovided. End pad 34 includes a wall segment 36 which covers opening 22and an extending shroud like member 38 which recedes from an extendingposition at its upper extremity to its lower extremity which is injuxtaposition with the wall 36. A pair of access ports 40 and 42 areprovided in the lower portion of wall 36 and the access ports 40 and 42are designed to direct the flow of air from the apparatus 10 to thenostril of a user of the device. To this end the snap on end pad 34 ispreferably made of a somewhat pliable rubber-like material for comfortand convenience in use. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the nose 44 of anintended user of the device may be pressed against end wall 36. Thisaction tends to elevate the position of the nostrils, indicated at 46 tolocate the nostrils of a user of the device in convenient position overthe air exits ports 40 and 42.

A control thermostat 48 is also provided at a convenient location withinhousing 16 to measure the temperature of the air flowing therethrough.

The temperature of the air warmed by heater 28 may be convenientlycontrolled by a variable device such as a rheostat 50. Adjustment ofrheostat 50 varies the current flowing to the heater element 28 therebycontrolling the heat output of heater 28 to control the heat input tothe air flowing over the heater. The air is maintained at the desiredheat level, as indicated by the adjustment of rheostat 50, as thethermostat 48 periodically turns heater 28 on and off to maintain airtemperature at the desired setting.

Mounted within housing 14 in chamber 18 is a medicant dispersantassembly 52 which includes a reservoir 54 fillable through an accesspanel 56 with the desired microbicidal agent or agents. A plungeroperated pumping system 58 comprising a depressable plunger member 60acting against a coil spring 62 acts to dispel the microbicidal agent 64within reservoir 54 through a delivery tube 66 to outlet orifices 68 and70 positioned within the flow stream of air flowing under the action ofblower 26 within chamber 16. The outlet orifice 68 and 70 areconveniently positioned to deliver minute droplets of liquid spray intoan area of chamber 16 adjacent the outlet ports 40 and 42 for convenientinhalation by a user of the device. The air flowing under action ofblower 26 entrains the minute droplets of the microbicidal agent toassist in the inhalation of the desired medicant.

The spray device 58 may also be operated independently of bloweractuation thus affording use of the device as an inhalation devicewithout the flow of warmed heated air. The device may also be operatedwith the blower and spray alone without activating the heater element 28to assist in the dispersion of the minute droplets of medicated spray,if desired.

Blower 26 is activated by a conveniently placed on/off switch 70 and itis also recognized that while an A.C. electrical power cord connection72 is illustrated it is contemplated that battery operated motor andheating element may also be utilized, such battery being the type whichmay be conveniently recharged by a recharger assembly which may beinserted into any standard electrical outlet.

Because the heating element to elevate the temperature of the flowingair need not be of overly large capacity and the blower need only directa relatively modest flow of air, the device is advantageously of arelatively compact and lightweight construction facilitating convenienthandheld use.

In another embodiment of the present invention the medicant is suppliedin a clear plastic capsule 100 which preferably includes suitableindicia 102 thereon in the form of scribed or marked lines whichrepresent a prescribed dosage for application. Capsule 100 includes aremovable top 104 or a suitable tear off top and is adapted to sealinglyfit about the pump tube of pump system 58. Preferably, access port 56 isof a clear plastic material to enable the user to visually discern themedicant within capsule 100 so that the proper dosage for the spray maybe determined by viewing the indicia on capsule 100. Use of capsule 100may be preferable for ease of use and replacement of medicant. Capsule100 may be made disposable for ease in use and may be pre-filled withthe desired medicant.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the microbicidalagent hexylresorcinol was used. Hexyresorcinol, an aromatic alcohol, isdihydrobenzene with a normal hexyl group on position 4 and hydroxylgroups on positions 1 and 3 of the aromatic nucleus. Typicallyhexylresorcinol is prepared by condensing rescorcinol with caproic acidin the presence of zinc chloride and the resulting intermediate productis reduced to hexylresorcinol. In a preferred embodiment a 0.05 to 0.1percent concentration of hexylresorcinol was used as the microbicidalagent in the apparatus of the present invention. Heat was applied towarm the air to between 110° F. to 130° F. to induce an elevatedtemperature within the nasal passages of the user to a hyperthermialevel, i.e. above about 106° F. The heated air was supplied atintermittent periods for comfort and periodically spray mists of thehexylresorcinol in sufficient amounts to effectively coat the nasalpassages were induced to enter the warmed nasal passages.

One recommended procedure is the introduction of the microbicidal sprayinto the nasal passage in a timed relationship to the introduction ofthe heated air stream and forms a sequence of operation which can berepeated to form a treatment cycle such that the heated air may beintroduced for a number of intervals each heat interval being of lessthan 15 seconds, with five second rest intervals between. The heatinterval and the rest period are repeated four or five times, and in thelast two intervals the microbicidal spray is introduced.

The procedures can best be described from the following flow chart:

    __________________________________________________________________________    Step 1                                                                            1a Step 2                                                                            2a Step 3                                                                            3a Step 4                                                                             4a Step 5                                                                             5a                                          __________________________________________________________________________    Heat                                                                              rest                                                                             Heat                                                                              rest                                                                             Heat                                                                              rest                                                                             Heat rest                                                                             Heat rest and 3 sprays                           15 sec                                                                            5 sec                                                                            15 sec                                                                            5 sec                                                                            15 sec                                                                            5 sec                                                                            15 sec                                                                             5 sec                                                                            15 sec                                                                spray   spray                                                                 3 sprays                                                                              3 sprays                                         __________________________________________________________________________

The treatment cycle is repeated three to four times per day, spacedequally apart if possible. This is a recommended sequence although it isto be understood that depending upon the tolerance level of theindividual, larger periods of application of heated air may be employed,if desired, and more spray may be utilized to result in greaterinhalation of the microbicidal agent. The procedure described above wasfound to be effective to relieve cold symptoms in a number ofindividuals and to significantly speed their recovery from theundesirable effects of a cold.

In another preferred embodiment povidone-iodine was used in a similarapplication technique as that described above. Povidone-iodine is alsoknown as 1-ethenyl-2-pyrrolidinone polymers; 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinonepolymers; poly [1-(2-oxo-1-pyrrolidinyl)] ethylene;polyvinylpyrrolidone; polyvidone; polyvinylpyrrolidone and polvidone.Povidone-iodine is made synthetically by interacting 1,4 butanediol withammonia and acetylene. The preferred concentration of povidone-iodineused in practice of the present invention was a 7.5 percentconcentration diluted 1:14 or a 0.5 percent concentration.

In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, equalparts of the disclosed hexylresorcinol and povidone-iodine were mixed tomake a combination microbicidal agent and, also, alternate treatments ofhexylresorcinol and povidone-iodine were employed.

The invention disclosed herein is not limited to use of hexylresorcinoland povidone-iodine, either singly, in combination or in alternatetreatment applications. A number of antiseptics and antiviral agents arebelieved to be useful as microbicidal agents in the practice of thepresent invention. The following compositions used either singly, incombination or in alternate treatment applications are believed to offersignificant benefits to a cold sufferer when applied in a hyperthermictreatment made as disclosed herein. This listing is not intended to beexhaustive but merely illustrative of the types of microbicidal agentswhich may be effectively employed as a treatment agent in conjunctionwith the method and apparatus disclosed herein:

Benzyl alcohol also known as phenyl methanol in 0.05 to 10.0 percentconcentration solution.

Menthol also known as hexadyhdrothymol or 3-paramenthol in a 0.04 to 2.0percent concentration solution.

Phenol or hydroxybenzene in a 0.5 to 1.5 percent concentration.

Phenolate sodium also known as sodium phenolate, sodium phenate, sodiumcarbolate, sodium phenoxide and phenol sodium in a 0.5 to 1.5 percentconcentration solution.

Salicyl alcohol having chemical structure ortho-hydroxy benzyl alcoholin a 1.0 to 6.0 percent concentration solution.

Eucalyptol which is a volatile oil prepared by steam distallation of thefresh leaves of eucalyptus globulus in a 0.025 to 0.1 percentconcentration solution.

Methyl salicylate the methyl ester of salicylic acid made by esterfyingmethyl alcohol with salicylic acid in up to a 0.4 percent concentrationsolution.

Thymol also known as thyme camphor is a 5-methyl-2-isopropyl-1-phenol ina 0.006 to 0.1 percent concentration solution.

Cresol, a phenol with a methyl group on either the ortho, meta, or parapositions of the benzene ring, also known as tricresol, methylphenol orcresylic acid in a 0.25 to 0.5 percent concentration solution.

Sodium dichromate, the sodium salt of chromic acid having the empiricformula Na₂ CrO₄.4H₂ O in 2.0 to 3.0 percent concentration solution.

Benzalkonium chloride, a mixture of alkyldimethylbenzylammoniumchlorides with the empiric formula [C₆ H₅ CH₂ N(CH₃)₂ R] where Rrepresents alkyl groups of varying lengths beginning with n-C₈ H₁₇ ton-C₁₈ H₃₇, in a 0.01 to 0.02 percent concentration solution.

Benzethomium chloride which is benzyldimethyl[2-[2-(p-1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutylphenoxy) ethyoxyl]ethyl] ammoniumchloride in a 0.02 to 0.1 percent concentration solution.

Benzoic acid also known as phenylcarboxylic acid, phenylformic acid,flowers of benzoin and flowers of benzamine, in a 0.1 to 0.3 percentconcentration solution.

Carbamide peroxide in anhydrous glycerin also known as urea hydrogenperoxide having the empiric formula CO(NH₂)₂. H₂ O in a 9.0 to 15.0percent concentration solution in anhydrous glycerin or propyleneglycol.

Cetylpyridinium chloride or 1-hexadecylpyridinium chloride in a 0.025 to0.1 percent concentration solution.

Dequalinium chloride in a 0.5 percent concentration solution.

Domiphen bromide or N,N-dimethyl-N-(2-phenoxyethyl-1-dodecyldimethyl(2-phenoxyethyl) ammonium bromide in a 0.005 percent concentrationsolution.

Ethyl alcohol, C₂ H₅ OH, also known as hydroxyethane, ethanol and ethylhydroxide, in up to 70 percent concentration solution.

Iodine in 1.0 to 2.0 percent concentration solution.

Oxyquinoline sulfate also known as oxine, 8-hydroxyquinoline,oxybenzopyridine, phenopyriden, 8 quinolinol and oxychinolin in up to a0.1 percent concentration solution.

Secondary amyltricresols prepared by the interaction of ortho-, meta andparacresols and secondary amyl alcohol at 150° C. in 0.1 to 0.3 percentconcentration solution.

Sodium caprylate, which is the sodium salt of caprylic acid (CH₃ (CH₂)₆COONa) and is an aliphatic, straightchained carboxylic acid in a 10.0 to20.0 percent concentration solution.

Thymoliodide also known as dithymol diiodide in a 2.0 to 10.0 percentconcentration solution.

Citric acid, 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid, in an aqueoussolution of between 0.5% to 5%.

As indicated this listing is by no means exhaustive but is merelyindicative of the general class of microbicidal agents which will beeffective for use in the present invention. The concentrations noted arealso not intended to be limiting but are suggested based onrecommendations of safety in data supplied by the Food and DrugAdministration. It is also to be noted that all of the recommendedmicrobicidal agents may be used singly or in combination or in alternateapplications, if desired, to act on a wide range of viri and bacteria.

In addition it has been found that the apparatus of the presentinvention may be used as a delivery vehicle for a wide variety ofmedicants for topical or internal use. In terms of internal use it iswidely recognized that the mucous membranes are an optimal site or entrypoint for the absorption of drugs and/or medicants into the body.Medicants entering through the mucous membranes often act much fasterand more effectively than pills or capsules ingested in the stomach, oreven injections.

Medicants heated above body temperature for example, about 100° F., andentering through the mucous membranes may act faster and be absorbedmore effectively than medicants which are not delivered at an elevatedtemperature.

In addition the device may be used for the application of medicants in atopical manner on other parts of the body. As an example of topicalapplication it has been found that the topical application of thequartenery ammonium compound benzalkonium chloride is substantially moreeffective when heated to 37° C. for treatment of streptococcushaemolyticus, staphyloccus aureus, eberthella hyphosa and escherichiacoli than when it is applied at 20° C.

Further, the device of the present invention has been found to beeffective to heat and dry the area between the toes and legs prior tothe application by spray of a medicant with anti-fungal agents.

It is thus seen that the present invention provides a new and novelmethod and apparatus to alleviate the symptoms of a cold by combiningthe use of the beneficial aspects of hyperthermic treatment through theuse of dry heated air in combination with a microbicidal agent. Inaddition, the present invention provides a method and apparatus fordelivery of other medicants for ultimate absorption through the mucousmembrane or any other absorptive membranes and for topical applicationsof medicants and anti-fungal agents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for alleviating symptoms of a viraland/or bacterial infection comprising the steps of:warming air to atemperature above 105° F. so it is relatively dry, directing a stream ofthe warmed and relatively dry air to the nasal passages of a person tobe treated, and spraying a measured quantity of a misted microbicidalagent for inhalation into the nasal passages thereby to coat themembranes within the warmed nasal passages with said microbicidal agent.2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said stream of warmed air isdirected to the nasal passages intermittently.
 3. The method as definedin claim 1 wherein said stream of warmed air is directed to the nasalpassages intermittently and said microbicidal agent is sprayed duringperiods when said warmed air is not flowing.
 4. The method as defined inclaim 1 wherein said air is warmed to the desired temperature rangeresponsive to a thermostatic control device.
 5. The method as defined inclaim 1 wherein said microbicidal agent is selected from the groupconsisting essentially of hexylresorcinol, povidone-iodine, citric acid,benzyl alcohol, menthol, phenol, phenolate sodium, salicyl alcohol,eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, thymol, cresol, sodium dichromate,benzalkonium chloride, benzethomium chloride, benzoic acid, carbamideperoxide, cetylpyridinium chloride, dequalinium chloride, domiphenbromide, ethyl alcohol, iodine, oxyquinoline sulfate, secondaryamyltricresols, sodium caprylate and thymoliodide.
 6. The method asdefined in claim 1 wherein said microbicidal agent is hexylresorcinol ina 0.05 to 0.1 percent concentration solution.
 7. The method as definedin claim 1 wherein said microbicidal agent is povidone-iodine in a 0.5percent concentration solution.
 8. The method as defined in claims 5, 6,or 7 wherein the procedure entails directing warmed air in a sequence ofsteps comprising flowing warmed air, resting, flowing warmed air anddirecting the said microbicidal agent during said period of rest.
 9. Themethod as defined in claim 1 wherein said air is warmed to a temperatureof between 105° F. to 130° F.